***Official*** Tour Games

[Langeveldt]

Mahmood?

Ignoring the fact that he can't bowl, we havent seen him display much grit with the bat.. Not up to the standards of a modern day number 8

 

[aussie]

well a good day for the men from the North..

Plus i wonder if Vaughan's presence in this match could mean we could be in for a shock selection of him in the 3rd test, that would be good.

 

[Tomm NCCC]

Am I right in thinking Monty ran someone out yesterday?

 

[PhoenixFire]

Indeed, he ran out Aron Heal.

 

[greg]

Swooped at shortish mid-wicket and hit direct with one and a half stumps to aim at.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Quality by the Monty, best fielder ever imo.

 

[superkingdave]

He did drop a catch though, but so did Gilo ( a pretty easy slip catch tbf)

 

[Laurrz]

Geraint Jones 0 (1)
Read 40*

hmmm

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Cook retired on 106. Read's along to 49 with Mahmood at the other end. Star batsman Giles made 4.

Doesn't mean a huge amount to make runs against the WA attack, but it's at the same ground they'll play the third test on, and it's valuable time in the middle.

 

[Gloucefan]

Anyone know why there was batting from Vaughan in this match?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Jimmy doing his selection prospects no harm with 3/49

 

[Tomm NCCC]

But you can count on England naming an unchanged team for Perth

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Anderson's good performance may see Monty left out of the WACA test, as they're not going to drop Hoggard or Harmison, and Fletcher won't be keen on dropping Giles, so it's mainly Monty vs Anderson.

Lots of media pressure on to get Monty in, though. Will be an interesting call.

 

[howardj]

Surely neither Anderson, Giles or Jones will play.

Good to see Strauss get runs.

Straussy has had some weird dismissals this Series.

It's not like he's been outclassed.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Surely neither Anderson, Giles or Jones will play.

Good to see Strauss get runs.

Straussy has had some weird dismissals this Series.

It's not like he's been outclassed.

To be fair, I think he pretty much was outclassed with his first two dismissals. There was an obvious plan to target him with the short ball and Ponting even set a clear field for it on the second evening in Brisbane, and he was sucked in during both innings.

Both his second test dismissals were a bit unusual though. Was done by the slowish pitch in the first innings I think, and the second one he was just beaten in the flight and padded away the ball and was incorrectly given out.

I think Jones is a certainty for the third test, and Anderson's been doing well in all the tour games and Mahmood hasn't, so they might keep him in if they go for a fourth seamer. The correct team obviously has at least one of those two bowlers out for Monty, but with Fletcher's obsession with the tail they'll have to pick Giles I think. I think Jones vs Read is a nothing battle really. Read probably deserves a shot in the test team because Jones has been so horrible with the bat, but it's hard to see Read doing that much better.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Strauss' first innings at Brisbane wasn't "outclassed" - there was no plan, it was just a ball that was half there for the pull which he didn't get, and probably should have cut.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Strauss' first innings at Brisbane wasn't "outclassed" - there was no plan, it was just a ball that was half there for the pull which he didn't get, and probably should have cut.

It's not about the ball, I don't think. It wasn't anything special, but Ponting did put two men back for the hook and another closer in on the leg-side, and I disagree that there was no plan. Whether or not that was exactly the sort of ball they were trying to execute it with, they were trying to get him out hooking IMO, and the plan was to bowl short and have him mi**** one. Obviously though, it was Strauss's poor choice of which ball to hit that got him out, not the quality of the ball. Same goes for the dismissal in the second innings regarding the plan, though that was a more normal sort of delivery to play the shot to.

His second test dismissals were pretty meaningless, I think.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Is Alec Stewart a better option than Geraint? His form with bat and gloves make it seem it.

 

[vic_orthdox]

It's not about the ball, I don't think. It wasn't anything special, but Ponting did put two men back for the hook and another closer in on the leg-side, and I disagree that there was no plan. Whether or not that was exactly the sort of ball they were trying to execute it with, they were trying to get him out hooking IMO, and the plan was to bowl short and have him mi**** one. Obviously though, it was Strauss's poor choice of which ball to hit that got him out, not the quality of the ball. Same goes for the dismissal in the second innings regarding the plan, though that was a more normal sort of delivery to play the shot to.

His second test dismissals were pretty meaningless, I think.

Um, remember Hussey was running back from normal square leg? At the time, there was only one guy out.

 

[Langeveldt]

Is Alec Stewart a better option than Geraint? His form with bat and gloves make it seem it.

yes, and the fact that he's played about as much cricket as one of Englands strike bowlers does make him a viable option..

He also isn't mediocre, we know he's got class